Liquid collection and return device



y 8, 1957 R. J. EVANS 2,793,652

LIQUID COLLECTION AND RETURN DEVICE Filed June 11, 1954 F/ G. i.

F| LTEE EXTBACTOE WASH E2 4 23 PUM EETUEN TANK [D v V T g INVENTOR.B05527 u. EVA/V6,

United States Patent j 2,793,652 LIQUID COLLECTION AND RETURN DEVICERobert J. Evans, El Reno, Okla. Application JuneII 1954, Serial No.436,174

1 Claim. ((1137-399) cally ceases operation when the quantity of liquidto be returned is reduced to a small amount, in order to avoid injectingany air into the cleaning system.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description considered in conjunction with the attacheddrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing a device accordingto the present invention as inserted in a conventional dry cleaningsystem.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the said device.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and particularly to Figurel, the reference numeral 10 designates generally the illustrated device,which is shown as inserted in a conventional dry cleaning system whichincludes an extractor 11 and a first conduit 12 having one end connected to the intake of the pump 14 and having its other end connectedto a source containing spent dry cleaning liquid, specifically a washer15. The outlet of the pump 14 is connected to a filter 16 from which areturn line 17 conducts the filtered cleaning liquid to the washer 15.

The device 10 collects spent dry cleaning liquid draining from theextractor 11 and the spent liquid passes through the conduit 12 to thepump 14. The device 10 includes a tank 18 having a bottom 18a and a sidewall 18b. The tank 18 is provided in the top 18c with an opening 23 forready inspection of and access to the interior thereof. An inlet 19traverses an upper part of the side wall 18b and an outlet conduit 20traverses the side wall 18b below the inlet 19, the conduit 20 having aninner end portion 2011 within the tank 18 and an outer end portion 20boutside the tank 18. A second conduit 21 connects the extractor 11 tothe tank inlet 19, and a third conduit 22 connects the tank outlet 20 tothe first conduit 12. As will be apparent from Figure 2, the inner andouter end portions 20a and 20b are horizontal. The inner end portion 20ahas a first axial passage 20c ex tending therethrough, the passage 200having a terminal inner end 20c through which the said passage opens.The passage 20c has an enlarged diameter portion which is spaced fromthe terminal end 20e of the inner end portion 20a and defines a firstvalve chamber 26. A valve seat 25 is at the end of the first valvechamber 26 remote from the terminal end 202 of the inner end portion20a. A lateral upwardly facing port 24 traverses the inner end portion20a and opens into the first chamber 26. A valve stem 28 works in thefirst passage 200, the stem having 2 an inner end-27 extending beyondthe terminal inner end 20a and an outer end 27a positioned in the firstchamber 26. A valve head 27b is on the outer end 27a for engagement withthe valve seat 25.

A float arm 32 is pivotally mounted on the inner end portion 20a of theconduit 20 and is operatively connected to the inner end 28of the valvestem 27. As shown in Figure 2, the arm 32 has a float on one end and hasthe other end attached tothe upper end of an upstanding lever 33, thelever being pivotally connected intermediate its ends as at 35 to abracket 34 carried by the inner end portion 20a of the conduit 20. Thelower end of the lever 33 is connected to the valve stem 27 inwardly ofthe inner end 28 thereof: The outer end portion 20b of the conduit 20has a second axial passage 26g which communicates with and is alignedwith the first passage 20c of the inner end portion 20a of the conduit20. The

second passage 20g has an inner end ZOh communicaIing with the firstpassage 20c and an enlarged diameter portion between the ends of thesecond passage 20g and defining a second valve chamber 37. A valve seat38 is on the ends of the second chamber adjacent the first passage 20c,and a check' valve 36 in the second chamber 37 is normally in closingengagement with the seat 38 in the valve chamber 37. The check valve isfree to swing outwardly away from its seating position and the movementof liquid outwardly from the tank 18 through the conduit 22 swings thecheck valve 36 to the open position. Any backward flow of liquid in theconduit 22, however, toward the tank 18, will swing the check valve 36downwardly against the seat 38, closing the conduit 22 and preventingthe movement of the liquid backwardly into the tank 18.

A hand actuable valve 39 may be inserted in the conduit 22, exteriorlyof the chamber 37, for positively shutting off the conduit 22 when thedevice of the present invention is not in use.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the device ofthe present invention affords a simple and automatic means forcollecting dry cleaning liquid extracted by the extractor 11 fromclothes which have come from a washer 15 and for returning the liquid socollected into the dry cleaning system. As the dry cleaning liquid isextracted from the clothes in the extractor 11, it drains 4: through theconduit 21 into the tank 13. When the level of liquid in the tank 18becomes sufliciently high to raise the float 30, the movement of thelever 31, connecting the float 30 and the valve 26, causes the openingof the valve 26 and permits the liquid to enter the conduit 22. Inasmuchas the other end of the conduit 22 is connected to the intake of thepump 14, the liquid entering the conduit 22 from the tank 18 will bedrawn through the conduit 22, so long as the valve 39 is open, and willbe pumped together with other liquid coming directly from the washerthrough the conduit 12, into the filter 16 where it will be cleaned andfinally discharged again through the supply line 17 to the washer 15.The check valve 36 will be swung upwardly by the movement of the liquidoutwardly from the tank 18 through the conduit 22 and will offer noresistance to the passage of the liquid in that direction. When thelevel of the liquid in the tank 18 falls, the float 30 will fall with itand, through the lever 31 will move the valve 36 into seating positionupon the valve seat 25, closing the conduit 22 and preventing furtherliquid from escaping from the tank 18. The position of the float 30 isso adjusted that it will cause the closing of the valve 26 before thelevel of the liquid in the tank 18 falls below the level of the opening24 into the conduit 22. This adjustment prevents air from being drawninto the conduit 22 from the tank 18, as would be the case if the valve26 remained open after the liquid level had fallen below that of theopening 24. The open- P'atente d May 28, 1957 ing 23 in the top of thetank 18 permits ready access to the interior of the tank for cleaning,adjustment of the float 30, or for any other purpose. It will be evidentthat the addition of the device of the present invention to an existingdry cleaning system will be a simple and inexpensive matter, inasmuch asthe device utilizes the pump already in the system and its installationrequires no substantial alteration of the system.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described, a tank having a bottom and a sidewall, an inlet traversing an upper part of the side wall, an outletconduit traversing said side wall below said inlet, said conduit havingan inner end portion within the tank and an outer end portion outside ofthe tank, said inner and outer end portions being horizontal, said innerend portion having a first axial passage extending therethrough andhaving a terminal inner end through which said first passage opens, saidfirst passage having an enlarged diameter portion spaced from theterminal end of the inner end portion and defining a first valve chamberand a valve seat at the end of the first chamber remote from saidterminal end, a lateral upwardly facing port traversing said inner endportion and opening into said first chamber, a valve stem working insaid first passage, said stem having an inner end extending beyond thesaid terminal end and an outer end positioned in said first chamber, avalve head on said outer end of the stem for engagement with said seat,.a float arm pivotally mounted on said inner end portion of the conduitand operatively connected to the inner end of the valve stem, said outerend portion of the conduit having a second axial passage communicatingwith and aligned with said first axial passage of the inner end portionof the conduit, said second passage having an inner end communicatingwith the first passage and an enlarged diameter portion between the endsof the second passage defining a second valve chamber, a valve seat onthe end of the second chamber adjacent to said first passage, and acheck valve in said second chamber normally, in closing engagement withthe seat in the second valve chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS522,668 Nagle July, 10, 1894 1,271,599 Messer July 9, 1918 1,775,860 LaBour Sept. 16, 1930 1,795,006 Boiney Mar. 3, 1931 1,803,905 Kinzbach May5, 1931 1,920,469 Jones Aug. 1, 1933 2,198,412 McDonald Apr. 23, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS 472,170 Italy of 1950

